This History of Tattoos“Tattoo is a term applied to the practice of permanently marking the skin by injecting or puncturing the dermis and embedding an indelible pigment” (Campbell. N.P). Humans have marked their bodies with tattoos for thousands of years. These everlasting designs: sometimes plain, sometimes elaborate, but always personal have served as status symbols, signs of religious beliefs, adornments and even forms of punishment. “In 1991, the oldest recorded tattoos belong to Otzi the iceman, whose mummified remains discovered in the Otztal Alps between Italy and Austria.” According to anthropologist, Nina Jablonski from Penn State, the iceman died around 3300 B.C. “The skin is of great interest because it bears several tattoos: a cross on the inside of the left knee, six straight lines 15 centimeters long above the kidneys and numerous lines on the ankles”(Gilbert Pg. 11). Whether we look at tattoos with awe or disgust, admiration or disapproval, it is a simple fact that tattooing is practiced all over the world and has been for thousands of years; Tattoos are everywhere, every tattoo has a different meaning, some for religious beliefs, forms of punishment, signs of masculinity, even to fit into a certain society or just to be an outcast, but till this day everyone still gets tattooed.

In Egypt, earlier Egyptologists influenced by prevailing social attitudes toward the medium have virtually ignored written records, physical remains, and works of art relevant to Egyptian tattoo. “Today however, we know that there have been bodies recovered dating to as early as the six Dynasty, exhibiting the art form of tattoo. In 1891, archaeologists discovered the mummified remains of Amunet, a priestess of the goddess Hathor. Amunet’s life dated back to 4160 BC” (Egyptian World N.P). This female mummy displayed several lines and dots tattooed about her body - grouping dots and or dashes aligned into abstract geometric patterns. “The implements used, clay and sharp bone needles to make tattoos” (Egyptian World N.P). This art form was restricted to women only, and usually these women were associated with ritualistic practice. Egyptian tattooing, sometimes related to the sensual, erotic, and emotional side of life, and these themes found in tattooing today. The Egyptians spread the practice of tattooing throughout the world. By 2,000 BC, the art of tattooing had stretched out all the way to Southeast Asia. The Ainu (western Asian nomads) then brought it with them as they moved to Japan. In Japan, the earliest evidence of tattooing is found in the form of figurines made of clay that have faces painted or engraved to represent tattoo marks. “The oldest figurines of this kind of been recovered from tombs dated 5,000BC or older, and many other figurines have been found in tombs dating from the second and third millennia BC” (Gilbert Pg. 77). The tools used in Japanese tattooing consisted of bamboo and metal. The Bamboo is crafted for the wooded handle of the tool and steel or other metal creates a tight bundle of needles that are fixed at one end of the tool. The first record of Japanese tattooing found in a Chinese dynastic history compiled in 297 AD. By the early seventeenth century, the rulers of Japan adopted plenty of the cultures of the Chinese, resulting in the disliking of the decorative tattooing identified. The first documented tattooing as a form of punishment in Japan was in 720 AD. By the late seventeenth century, a general code to recognize criminals and outcast was widely used. “Outcasts were tattooed on the arms, and the criminals were marked with a variety of symbols that designated the place where the crimes were committed” (Krcmarik N.P). By the end of the seventeenth century, other forms of punishment replaced penal tattooing. The reason was that decorative tattooing became popular, and criminals covered their punishment tattoos with larger decorative patterns. In the eighteenth century, pictorial tattooing...

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...History of tattoos
Did you know that the first sign of tattoos were discovered on the “Iceman” dating back over five thousand centuries? These tattoos were simple lines and dots, but the significance is unknown. The word tattoo is said to have two major derivations- from the Polynesian word ‘ta’ which means striking something and the Tahitian word ‘tatau’ which means ‘to mark something’. After reading this, one will know the background and history of tattoos, the evolution of the equipment used to give tattoos, and the medical risks involved with getting a tattoo. People that do not have or agree with tattoos are sometimes labeled as freaks or rebels. People get tattoos to express their personalities or religious beliefs. Religious tattoos and other symbols are nothing new, tattoos were actually discovered on mummies which dated as far back as 3000 B.C.
Sailors, prisoners, Indians, and even the blue collar working man or woman all have something in common: Tattoos. Tattoos are permanent designs applied by ingraining different color pigment into the skin. Tattoos have multiple meanings for different cultures. In almost every early culture, tattoos symbolized status. Tribal eras of history,...

...History and Polynesian TattoosHistory is all about studying past events and how they relate to human beings. The study of historical events informs us of the things that helped shape the world as we know it today. While most continue to evolve the way our predecessors did, some continue to carry on the traditions of the old world. Polynesian tattoos are one of those traditions that have withstood the test of time and maintained their heritage. In this paper I will cover the history of Polynesian tattoos and the events going on in the world at that time.
On the basis of mythology, humans learned the art of tattooing from the 2 sons of the God of Creation Ta’aroa. Tattooing was operated by high trained shamans (tahua) in the religious ceremony, who was an expert in the meanings of the tattoo and skills of the art (www.apolynesiantattoo.com, 2014). The origin of the Samoan tatau is believed to have been introduced to the Samoa islands by two Fiji women, who came ashore with the tools and knowledge of tattooing. The tale proclaimed that the two sisters sang a song, which chanted that women are only to be tattooed, but as they neared the beach shores, the song mistakenly became reversed, indicating that only the men will be tattooed (www.nps.gov, 2014). Getting tattooed is a sacred ceremony in Polynesian culture. Tattoos and their location on the body were...

...The History of Tattoos and Body Piercing
* * * * Angela Gipson
* * * * COM/150
* * * * 04/30/2010
* * * * Linda Neff
Tattoos and body piercings come in different shapes and sizes, from the delicate to the extreme. What is the obsession with tattoos and body piercings and why do people insist on having them done? Do people just do these gestures without knowing the pros, cons, and the statistics of people who get an infection or die from tattoos and body piercing? Everyone has the ability to find this knowledge and utilize this knowledge and make a choice whether to have the tattoo or piercing done. People should know that contracting an infection or dying does not happen to everyone.
HISTORY OF TATTOOS
Throughout the years, evidence shows tattoos date back to as early as 4,000 B.C. In 1991, scientists found Otzi, also known as the Iceman, with a total of 58 tattoos made up of only simple dots and lines. Scientists believe that these markings may have been used for medicinal purposes because (the markings were near or on typical acupuncture points and evidence showed osteoarthritis) “www.laughtergeneology.com.” Body piercing has been ornamented for as long as tattooing, and the Egyptians used piercings as a symbol of royalty and bravery. Some body piercings were even used for religious purposes. In some areas,...

...Macy Walker
Kate Reavey
English 101
17 November 2012
Tattoos: Then and Now
In today’s world, it is not uncommon to see people covered in all types of body art, such as tattoos. Arms, legs, sometimes even faces, all painted with permanent ink. For what reason, some people ask. What’s the point having words, designs, or pictures permanently drawn onto your skin? I personally love tattoos; they’re an artistic way for people to express who they are and their originality. Tattoos are a way for people to showcase their inner differences. But the question is, where did tattooing start, and why?
The word tattoo originates from the Tahitian word tattau, which means, "to mark.” An explorer James Cook, in his records from his 1769 expedition to the South Pacific, first mentioned this word. However, many scientists believe that the earliest known evidence of tattooing dates back 3300 B.C. due to 59 markings found on the skin of a mummified human body known as The Iceman (Demand Media Inc.).
In 2160 B.C., tattooing became prevalent in Egypt. Several mummies displaying lines and dots tattooed all over their bodies have been recovered that date to as early as the XI Dynasty. Though these people had been mummified for thousands of years, the tattoo markings were still completely visible (Hemingson). The main reasons for these Egyptian tattoos are to connect with the Divine (like...

...Tattoos and Piercings from history till today.
Have you ever noticed that girl or guy sitting beside you all covered in tattoos and piercings? Did you think to yourself what a freak, or are you yourself one of these people who enjoy getting tattoos and piercings? You may not be aware of this but tattoos and piercings have been around for millions of years. In fact the earliest known examples of tattoos were in ancient Egypt and were found present on several female mummies dated to c.2000 B.C.
There are many reasons why people throughout history and today get tattoos and piercings. Some of these reasons are based on the person’s religion. In history as Christianity emerged it brought with it the secrecy of an underground religion in a Roman state of intolerance. Christians began tattooing crosses on the underside of their forearms as a secret sign to other Christians. This was a bold statement of their faith.
There are several reasons why people get religious tattoos in today’s society as well. One reason could be that they’ve survived something difficult. Oftentimes, a person’s faith is the only thing that seems to get them through a tough time and they want to honor their survival with a tattoo. Another example is that the tattoo has a dual meaning. For example, cross tattoos may...

...choose to get Tattoos done…
Why did you get that tattoo? Nowadays, it seems like everybody has one, but why did that get that specific tattoo? Tattoos are expensive, they are painful and they are permanent. Many people find them unattractive, or even repulsive, others see the beauty in them. If you get a tattoo, you will be judged by others because of that tattoo. You may be labelled a criminal, a thug, uneducated and immature and you most certainly have some underlying psychological issues that you are trying to compensate for. People think that tattoos are just a cry for attention, a rebellion against society, or a way to hide who we truly are. Some will say you get tattoos in order to be different, yet others will claim you are just trying to fit in with all of the other tattooed people.
Loved One
A lot of people I've spoken to or heard about get tattoos for or about loved ones. Some get them to remember a loved one who has passed away and some get their sons or daughters names or faces on them as a gesture of love. These people are serious about their body art, and it really is beautiful to hear about. These people have decided that their family member or close friend is important enough to permanently put them on their skin. That's what I would call true love.
Religious
Another very common tattoo is the religious...

...February 2013
Tattoos Consequences
People should not use tattoos as self-expression because many dilemmas appear after the art is on the body. Yes, I do consider tattoos as art; but people need to think about the artwork in the long run. The way the body ages has a big impact on how tattoos will look over time. Tattoos can also influence success in employment opportunities. Plus, tattoos are permanently on the body. There are many reasons to get a tattoo, but you also have to think about the future. Body changes, employment opportunities, and the fact that tattoos are permanent are my reasons on why I think tattoos make bad examples of self-expression.
The aging process dramatically alters the look of tattoos over time. The human body is always changing and going through stages. We start off growing and our skin stretches, but over time we lose bone density and start shrinking and sagging. Also, due to the lack of protection from the sun’s exposure, tattoos lose their coloring and details. This means you could either live with a dull tattoo or go through the pain of paying and getting a touch up on the already scared tissue. Through the years, the lovely art of gravity makes the skin stretch and sag, which makes the tattoo lose the shape, clarity, and artful appearance. The colors could...

...Health Risks of Tattoos
My cousin Brad is covered in tattoos in every color from the top of his head to the top of his feet. Because he was not aware of his skin’s sensitivity to the ink; keloids formed, causing his tattoos to look as if they had been lifted off of his skin to form 2D structures. Due to his weight gain over the years, his tattoos look as if they had been stretched out across his body, forming elongated shapes and blurred images. However, most people found this fascinating and quite an amusement despite the distortions. Brad, unfortunately, is unhappy with the choices he made to permanently paint his body for personal fulfillment. He realizes that his self indulgence wasn’t worth the consequences he’s suffering from today. Nobody ever stops to think of the consequential health risks involved with such a work of art as tattooing. Surely Brad would have thought twice before making the decision to get all these tattoos had he known the health risks that involved the transfer of diseases like Hepatitis, HIV, and cutaneous infections; not to mention the side effects such as redness, irritation, swelling, and even the possible formation of keloids due to the skins sensitivity to the ink. Another health risk that Brad and most young people who get tattoos tend to overlook is the painful removal of the body art after realizing the physical and mental complications down the road....